Wizard of Oz

Frank L. Baum (1856 – 1910) wrote fourteen children’s books and a handful of short stories about the mythical land of Oz, but it was his first,”The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, that became an American classic and one of the most popular movies in film history, “The Wizard of Oz.”

Because "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was published more than one-hundred years ago, it is no longer covered by copyright in the U.S., and you can download it for free. Available formats include black and white PDF (includes the beautiful illustrations by W.W. Denslow), Kindle, full text, and ePub. Click on Baum's linked name to find more of the author's work.

"Since its publication in September 1900, L. Frank Baum's 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' has become America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." This virtual exhibit from the Library of Congress is divided into three sections: To Please a Child, To See the Wizard, To Own the Wizard. Although the site may not interest young children, us older ones will surely find something delightful. Visit to view original covers for many of Baum's children's books, Wizard of Oz advertising posters, and W. W. Denslow's original black-and-white book illustrations.

Pinner Malinda Gray Wilson has collected 245 pins for elementary-ages. Links include crafts, printable worksheets, classroom decorations, certificates, behavior charts, and more. To reach the bookmarked sites, double click on any of the pinned images. You can also add the pins to your board by using the red Pin It button that appears when you hover your mouse over an image.

Use the navigation arrows on the left and right side of your screen (or the menu ribbon at the top) to view video clips, photographs, read actor bios, and to download social media skins (such as Facebook covers or Twitter profiles.) Click on Fun Stuff to reveal printable games and a coloring page. "Judy Garland as Dorothy. Born Frances Gumm, Judy Garland was raised in entertainment, performing in vaudeville with her two sisters in Minnesota. After her family moved to California, Garland changed her name and eventually signed with MGM."

This Wizard of Oz fan site by Eric Gjovaag is a cornucopia of frequently asked questions and resource lists. Although navigation is cumbersome, there is lots to discover here, so just grin and bear it. One way to get around, is simply to scroll down the very long front page until something catches your eye. Another is to use the horizontal menu about one screen down from the top of the page. Here's one question that's answered in The Movie: Trivia and Miscellany. "What is wrong with the Scarecrow's math? Doesn't he know the Pythagorean Theorem?"